Finnish Lapland (Finnish and Sámi: Lappi, Swedish: Lappland) is the Arctic far north in Finland, strictly defined as the province of the same name, but in practice starting near the Arctic Circle.

Temperatures can plunge as low as -50°C (-60°F) in the winter and the sun is not seen for days on end during the polar night (kaamos). By contrast, summer brings out the Midnight Sun and temperatures can occasionally rise to 30°C, although summer temperatures in the 10–20°C (50–70°F) are mostly the norm. July is the warmest month.

Lapland is the Wild North of Finland. Outside cities wilderness – with half-wild reindeer – is everywhere. Even by the roads the distances between villages are long and villages on the map may be home only to a few families, some even uninhabited part of the year.

The northernmost municipalities are home of Finland's Sámi people, who for centuries have got their living from this barren region, mainly from fishing, hunting and reindeer husbandry. Here they are a sizeable minority, even majority. Most tourist enterprises – especially those not Sámi – from Rovaniemi onward draw on Sámi culture, offering you invented "genuine" rituals etc. Take it for what it is and just enjoy, unless you want to make a real effort to sort things out from books, in museums and talking with locals. In southern Lapland the original Sámi population has been integrated with the Finnish and disappeared, but many from the north study or work in Rovaniemi (and also in southern cities).

There is not too much history to see, because at the end of the Second World War, retreating German troops implemented a scorched earth policy to punish their Finnish allies for agreeing to peace with the Soviet Union, razing everything in their path. By the time they were done, 100,000 people had fled, 675 bridges were blown up, all major roads were mined and the capital Rovaniemi had only 13 houses left standing.

But then, people don't come to Lapland for the architecture, they come here for the nature. While there are no craggy mountains or fjords here, the endless pine forests and the treeless rounded fells (tunturi) poking out between them can also be breathtakingly beautiful. Finns talk about the "Lapland fever" because of the many who have lost their heart to this land.

Christmas in Lapland sounds appealing, but this is the time of the Arctic Night; it is dark and it can be very cold (-30°C/-25°F is common). There are businesses happy to arrange meetings with Joulupukki (Santa Claus) in Rovaniemi, or snowmobile or husky safaris, with some luck in the light of aurora borealis, most anywhere. Such organised trips are safe, but independent backcountry adventures require adequate skill and experience.

By the end of February both the weather and the light improve, with temperatures on the better side of -10°C (-15°F) and nearly 12 hours of light a day, although the sun is low and it still feels like perpetual dusk! But the Finns only start to pack in at Easter, when things really start to heat up and it is possible to ski in bright sunshine wearing only a T-shirt. It takes quite some time for the accumulated snow (as much as two meters) to melt off, and skiing may be possible as late as May.

In late spring and early summer, the landscape turns muddy as the snow melts, bringing on the curse of the Lappish mosquito and its friends (collectively known as räkkä), and if you think this sounds like a trivial nuisance you have never had to face up to the hordes that inhabit Lapland – don't venture out without industrial-strength insect repellent. Mosquitoes are far less present in the centres of the cities but it is virtually impossible to avoid the bite. The mosquitoes' bites are itchy and their noise is irritating, but they spread no diseases.

On the upside, the famous midnight sun is visible almost everywhere in Lapland. Special events are held to celebrate the equinox and the midnight sun. At Rovaniemi the sun doesn't set at all at Midsummer, with this period growing longer as one travels farther north (beginning of June to late July in Utsjoki). Some foreigners have difficulty sleeping during these nightless periods, though a simple sleep mask should go a long way.

By late July the mosquitoes start to die out and they're usually gone by late August. Hiking in the middle of ruska, the colourful time of autumn, is a worthwhile experience.

The local language is mostly Finnish. Sámi languages are spoken sparsely to commonly in the northernmost areas (Sodankylä, Inari, Utsjoki and Enontekiö). but as everywhere in Finland, you will survive very well with English. Swedish, though official, is rarely spoken in this area, but the closely related Norwegian may be spoken by the border. English is the main option for those who don't speak Finnish. German and other languages might be known at hotels and tourist attractions.

Flying is the most practical and fastest means of reaching much of Lapland, but for most destinations services are sparse and prices often steep. There are commercial airports in Hetta (Enontekiö), Ivalo, Kemi/Tornio, Kittilä and Rovaniemi. Best options for airlines are Finnair, Blue1 and Finncomm Airlines. Air Baltic flies to Rovaniemi and Kittilä from Riga. The buses mostly drive via the airports.

Trains will get you to the cities, most notably to the provincial capital Rovaniemi at the Arctic Circle, or to the northernmost railway station in Kolari. The overnight trains from the south have sleepers and also take cars. Most of Lapland is reachable only by bus.

There are good roads to Lapland, but instead of using a day on driving, you might want to get your car on an overnight train and wake up fresh in the morning to enjoy the landscape while driving only the remaining distance – which may certainly be long enough.

Distances in Finnish Lapland are great and train service extends only to Kemijärvi (a little north-east of Rovaniemi) and Kolari, so the independent traveller will thus have to rely on slightly cheaper but infrequent buses to get around. Hitchhiking is also possible, but traffic is sparse even on the main highways and this can only be recommended during the brief summer season. On the other hand the likeliness of getting a lift is quite high once a car passes.

Long distance buses cover practically all of even the smallest places. They are the cheapest and slowest means of transportation. Although there are bus stops of course, they can also be stopped by hand sign when you happen to meet one as a hiker on a lonely countryside road. Express buses usually turn into normal ones north of Rovaniemi. For some stretches you should look for school buses, postal carriers or shuttle taxis.

You can reach most places in Lapland by car (yes, there are still villages without road connection!), but traffic even on main roads is sparse and distances are great. Driving in Arctic conditions can be hazardous in winter. Winter tires (M+S) are mandatory from 1 December through the end of February and studded tires allowed to the end of Easter. Use Nordic tires, which are soft enough also at low temperatures. The most dangerous weather is when the temperature is around freezing, when slippery but near-invisible black ice forms on the roads. Minor roads are sometimes truly minor.

Stay very alert, particularly at dawn and dusk, for wild animals. Reindeer are a common cause of accidents, while collisions with much larger moose are rarer but very often lethal. If you hit a reindeer, you must always inform the locals (or 112), even if the animal seems to be unharmed, as they will in turn inform the owner of the deer (you won't be charged with anything unless you were drunk or speeding). Bring emergency supplies in case of a collision or breakdown, especially in winter. Locals will help if they can, but you may be in for a long, very cold wait.

Unlike moose, which usually runs to the road suddenly and alone, the reindeer hang around peacefully in groups and collisions are usually easy to avoid if slowing down at once when the first reindeer appear in sight (drive carefully, as they may suddenly regroup in front of the car).

Bitterly cold in winter, usually not very warm in summer, and sparsely populated, the main draws for visitors are the desolate yet majestic nature and the unparalleled opportunities for trekking and winter sports. Many businesses know how to help inexperienced foreigners to enjoy their stay, e.g. arranging husky or snowmobile safaris, fishing trips, canoeing and northern light watching expeditions.

Several national parks can be found in Lapland with marked hiking paths and log cabins open to the public for free. But in contrast to Norway, they are only equipped with a stove and wood for heating, no food is provided. For the hardcore trekker there are wilderness areas, with even less people and services. To go on your own, basic hiking skills suffice in summer. In winter you should have a guide on any longer trek unless you really know what you are doing.

Bear in mind that Lapland consists of largely flat, vast forests and a lot of swamps: there are no soaring mountains or Alpine skiing pistes here, just gentle, rounded fells (i.e. Arctic treeless mountains, tunturi). In the northernmost regions (Utsjoki and Enontekiö) you will find also treeless areas, but real tundra is absent in Finland. Mountainous views are mostly located in "the arm" at Enontekiö, but because of the location of the road right next to the fells, best views are actually towards Sweden. Still there are magnificent environment available for hikers!

Finland's highest mountain, Halti (1328m) in the farthest north west end of Lapland is not much more than a higher hill of loose rocks, the lower summit of a mountain with its top on the Norwegian side of the border. The surroundings are still very special and a popular, demanding destination. You are nowadays free to cross the border where you want (customs formalities, if needed, can probably be taken care of beforehand).

For hikers, fishermen and hunters, there is a nice online map of Finland with trails and huts marked. Metsähallitus maintains a website about most important hiking terrains.

Lapland is the place to sample reindeer (poro) dishes, which are not too common elsewhere in Finland. The traditional way to eat this is as reindeer hash (poronkäristys), usually eaten with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam.

Other Lappish specialities worth looking for are snow grouse (riekko), fish such as Arctic char (rautu), and the delectable cloudberry (lakka or hilla), the world's most expensive berry. It grows in swamps, unripe it is red, ripe it is light orange, it contains a lot of vitamin C. In shops you find it most likely as jam (lakkahillo).

Most nightlife is concentrated to Kemi and Rovaniemi, and especially at wintertime: to the skiing resorts!

When hiking in wilderness it is quite safe to drink water from rivers even without boiling. Most hikers use water also from small clear streams and lakes untreated, but you might want to boil that for a few minutes.

According to the Everyman's Right (jokamiehenoikeus) one can set up a "temporary" camp (at least a night or two) nearly anywhere in the forest or on the fell, no matter who owns the land. However, making a fire is allowed only in extreme occasions or by permission of landowner (as at campfire sites in national parks or by a general permit for some wilderness and backcountry areas) and in protected areas, such as national parks, there may be restrictions also on camping. At many hiking destinations there are Spartan wilderness huts available for free or a very moderate price (€11/person/night).

There are lots of good quality hotels and hostels around Lapland. For a longer stay you might want to rent a cottage.

Know your limits. The winter environment is perfectly capable of killing the unwary tourist who gets lost in the fells. The rescue service works well – each year several tourists are rescued and only rarely any serious injury is sustained – but taking your chances is not recommended.

If you plan to travel alone or, for example in your own car, remember that distances are great and getting help for any unexpected situation may take time. Plan accordingly; take extra warm clothes in your car and tell the hotel staff where you are heading and when you expect to come back. Also mind the hunting season: Natives are usually very keen of hunting, and the start of the season draws most hunters into the wilderness. Potential dangers can be countered by wearing a red cap or some other easily identified garment, and staying away from areas where hunting is allowed during the season.

Otherwise, there are few serious dangers to your well-being. Tap water and even water of lakes and creeks is potable (in most places, bottled water contains more harmful compounds than tap water) and foods are almost without exception safe to eat. Crime rates are low and people are helpful and nice in general but noisy foreigners on Friday night in a local pub/discothèque might be sitting ducks for harassment (in extreme cases; violent attacks) by drunken male villagers. This is mostly problem of skiing centres. Probability to get robbed or getting any other harm is still extremely low.

This region travel guide to Finnish Lapland is a usable article. It gives a good overview of the region, its sights, and how to get in, as well as links to the main destinations, whose articles are similarly well developed. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page